CountrysideManagementAssociation

AnnualGeneralMeeting2018

5pmTuesday20thNovember2018

LeeValleyYHA,Cheshunt,HertfordshireMinutesPresent:

BoardMembers:LindaNunn(Chair),MarkBaker(Secretary),DaveSolly

NationalCommittee:IanBrooker(InternationalRep),TobyEdwards(NorthernIreland),TimRussell(SouthWest),RichardWestwood(SouthEast),TomHeenan(EastofEngland),ColinHouston(GreaterLondon).

RogerCole(HonVicePresident)

CMAMemberspresent:(seeattachedDelegateList,appendix1)

Also:RachelLimb(CMAAdminSupport)Apologies:AlanPreece,ChrisLockyer1. Welcome

ChairLindaNunn(LN)welcomedmemberstotheAGMandthankedeveryoneforattending.ThanksweregiventoLeeValleyRegionalParkAuthorityfortheirtimeandsupportinorganisingtheConferenceFieldTrips.TheChairintroducedMarkBaker,previouslyViceChair,astheCMA’snewSecretaryandDaveSolly.TheChairnotedapologiesfromTreasurerAlanPreecewhoisattendingamajorconferenceintheWyreForestonbehalfoftheCMA,CMAHonoraryPatronChrisBaineswillalsobeattheevent.

2. AnnualReport(incTreasurer’sReport)-attachedasAppendix2MarkBaker(MB)thankedLNherpartoftheAnnualReport(circulatedpriortothemeeting)andforalltheworkshehasputin.MBalsothankedAlanPreece(Treasurer)forhisreport(includedintheAnnualReport)andhispredecessorintheSecretaryrole,SteveScoffin,bothofwhomhadbattledwithHMRCtorecoverfinesincurrederroneously.

MBnotedthatJaniceBurley,currentlyNationalTrainingCo-ordinator,wouldbesteppingdownfromtheroleshortly.ShehasundertakenthisroleforthelasttwoyearsandMBthankedheronbehalfofCMA.Ifanymemberisinterestedintakenonatrainingrole,pleasegetintouch.ThankswerealsogiventoIanBrookerandRogerColefortheirrolesinternationallyandtoalltheRegionalCo-ordinatorsfortheirworkacrosstheUKandcontributionstotheAnnualReport.

MBoutlinedtheintentiontoproduceandcirculatetheannualreportinAprileachyearinfuture,reportingonthefinancialyearthathasjustended,atatimewhenitwillallbefreshinpeople’sminds.MBaskediftherewereanyquestionsarisingfromtheAnnualReportorFinancialReport,therewerenoquestionsfromthefloor.

3. RegionalUpdates

LNnotedthatregionalupdateshadbeenprovidedbytheRegionalCo-ordinatorsandwereincludedintheAnnualReport.Howeversomeregionshadnotbeenabletoprovideawrittenreport,thosepresentattheAGMwereinvitedtoupdateverbally:

SW-TimRussell(TR)• ThankstoLN,theSouthWestnowhasaDorsetRepresentative(CliveWhitbourn,NT)• SWRegionalCommitteehashadanumberofregularrangermeetings• EmmaJones,theeditoroftheSouthWestnewsletter“Sou’Wester”hasmovedroles

andisnowwiththeNTatKillerton.Asaresultthelatesteditionhasbeenalittledelayedbutwillbeoutshortly

• Theyhavehadexcellentturnoutformeetings• GoodstudydaythepreviousweektoAvalonMarshes,apartnershipandre-wilding

project(NE,NT,WTandEnvAgency),whichishometo¾oftheUKpopulationofbitterns,aswellsasmarshharriersandegrets

• Studydaysaregoingwell,withanotheronescheduledatDurlstonCountryParkinDorsetinearlyDecember

• NewmemberscontinuingtojoinandTRthankedallwhoarehelpingtokeeptheregionbuzzing.

LNwelcomedColinHoustonastheRegionalCo-ordinatorfortheGreaterLondonarea.

4. CMABoardDirectorsMBreportedthataspartofhisnewroleasSecretaryhehasrevisitedtheCMA’sArticlesofAssociation,theseareabitofaminefieldsohehassoughtexpertadviceonwhatneedstobedoneintermsoftheBoardandelectionofDirectors.IfthecurrentBoardmembersrecommendsomeoneforelection,theycanbeelectedattheAGM(ifquorate)bymajorityvote.RogerColeenquiredwhetherornotanyoftheexistingBoardmemberswereretiring-MBconfirmedthattwoareretiring,buttwopeoplewouldbestandingforelectiontoreplacethese,thoughadditionalBoardmemberswouldbeverywelcome.MembersvotedontheproposaltoelectPhilBoltonandStevePeachtotheBoard,thesemotionswerecarriedandPhilBoltonandStevePeachdulyelectedasDirectors.LNthankedthetworetiringmembers,SarahGibbsandDaveSolly,foralltheirhardworkonbehalfoftheAssociation.MBconfirmedthathavingreviewedtheArticlesofAssociationBoardMemberscanonlyserveforamaximumof6continuousyears,though

itispossibletheymaybere-electedagaininsubsequentyears,havingstooddownforoneyear.ItisimportantthattheCMAadherestoitsArticlesofAssociation;MBwillcontinuetoreviewtheseandexploreanybetter,ormoreappropriate,constitutionalmodels.

5. NewsUpdateLNpointedmemberstotheAnnualReportcirculatedpriortothemeetingfornews.

6. AccreditationReviewLNremindedthemeetingthatayearagoithadbeendecidedthattheAssociation’sAccreditationSchemebereviewedtoensureitwasfitforpurposeandmettheneedsofthemembership.Acrucialpartofthisreviewwaslookingattheframeworkofcompetencies,asthedemandsofthejobhavechangedsincetheschemewassetup.ToassistwiththeprocesstheBoardsoughtsomeonewhounderstandstheprocessandissues,butisnottooclosetotheorganisationforobjectivity.LNapologisedforthedelayandexplainedthatasallontheBoardarevolunteerstheprocesshastakenawhile.ForcontextLNremindedmembersthatanAccreditationReviewGroup,whichincludesTomHeenan,TobyEdwards,ClairPayne,DaveSolly,MattAxfordandPhilBolton,hasmetanddiscussedhowtheAccreditationSchemecouldbeimproved.Amember’ssurveywasundertaken,forbothaccreditedandnon-accreditedmembers,andabigthankyoutoallwhocontributedtothat.Thereisastrongfeelingthatanaccreditationschemeisstillwanted-butafurthersurveymaybeneededtodigdeeperintohowthismightworkandwhatitmightcontain.Withamindtokeepingthereviewobjective,adecisionwasmadetoputtheprojectouttoaconsultant.Abriefwassentto3candidates,butall3repliedtosaytheywereunabletodothework.Onethencamebackindicatingthattheycouldassistandfollowingameeting,haspreparedadirectionoftravelpaper.TheBoardandAccreditationReviewGrouphavecarefullyconsideredthispaperandhavedecidedthattheydonotwishtopursuethis.Theconsultantwasfocussingonaccreditedtraining,ratherthananaccreditationsystemforCMAMembers.ThisissomethingCMAmaywishtopursueinfuture,butjustnotatthispoint.WhattheCMArequiresisarevised,refreshedframeworkofcompetencies.Theconsultanthadsetouthowtheywoulddothereviewandthiswouldincludealotofpeople’stimethroughaseriesofgroups-giventhehourspeopleworkitisdifficulttoseehowthiswouldhavebeenachieved.Inadditionthefeewasveryhigh.TheAccreditationReviewGroupneedtohaveafurtherthinkaboutwhatisneeded,DaveSollysuggestedlookingagainatLANTRAtoseeifanyonetheremightbewillingtoassist.

LNapologisedtomembersforthefalsestartanddelaywiththereview.RogerCole(RC)notedthattheERFarelookingatRangercompetenciesandmentionedtheIUCNcompetencies.LNstatedshehasacopy.TheaccreditationsystemoperatedbySCRAwasalsonotedandtheirChair,GeorgePotts,agreedtoputLNintouchwiththeircontact.

7. AOB/QuestionsRCremindedmembersofanumberofopportunitiescomingupforinternationalcourses;SwissRangersareofferingaHeritageInterpretationSeminarinApril2019(over6days)andinJuly/AugustIsraeliRangersarerunningandanti-poachingmanagementprogramme(oneweek).RCalsonotedthatWorldRangerCongresswillbetakingplaceinNepalinNovember2019andthenextEuropeanRangerConferencewillbeintheBavarianForestinMay2020.DetailsoftheseareontheCMAwebsite.Meetingclosedat5.30pm

Appendix1:ConferenceDelegateList(PleasenotethatnotallconferencedelegateswerepresentattheAGM)FirstName Surname Company/OrganisationMark Baker DevonCountyCouncilPhil Bolton WildthingConsultantsIan Brooker DartmoorNationalParkAuthorityRoger Cole CMAHonoraryVicePresidentToby Edwards NationalTrustDerek Evans LeeValleyRegionalParkAuthorityJames Fleetwood TheConservationVolunteersNeil Fryer TheStatesofJerseyJasper Gallagher NationalTrustEmma Goodwin NationalTrustJason Goodwin NationalTrustGemma Gregory DerbyshireCountyCouncilChris Harris Tom Heenan EssexCountyCouncilMatthew Hewes NorwichCityCouncilColin Houston CityofLondonOpenSpacesChristopher Lockyer NationalTrustKeiran Luce TheStatesofJerseyMatthew McGettigan EssexWildlifeTrustJulia Meldrum TheStatesofJerseyGeorge Mist Retired,CMALifeMemberLinda Nunn CranborneChaseAONBAlison O'Connor LondonWildlifeTrustSteve Peach HampshireCountyCouncilMarie-Anne Phillips BracknellForestCouncilGeorge Potts SCRATim Russell DevonWildlifeTrustEllen Shields NorwichCityCouncilHelen Sibley SouthNorfolkCouncilDave Solly NaturalEnglandNick Stanley ThurrockCouncilWilliam Stewart NorwichCityCouncilMichelle Tyrtania CoventryCityCouncilNadia Ward LondonWildlifeTrustRichard Westwood BracknellForestCouncilJoe Williams NationalTrustChris Young NorwichCityCouncilRichard Young NationalTrust

Appendix2:AnnualReport(incTreasurer’sReport)PLEASENOTE:TheAGMwillbeconductedonthebasisthatmembershavehadtheopportunitytoreadthisAnnualReportpriortothemeeting.MemberswillnotbetakenthroughthedocumentattheAGM,buttheBoardwilltakeanyquestionsarisingfromit.

2017/18AnnualReportChairman’sReportAsanotherverybusyCMAyearcloses,I’dliketostartbyofferingmysincerethankstoeachandeverymemberacrosstheland,includingourverysupportivecorporatemembers.YouallspendvaluabletimeandeffortonCMA‘business’inwhateverformthattakes,whetherit’sorganisingandattendingtraining/studydays,holdingregionalmeetings,compilingorreadingregionalnewsletters,writingarticlesfortheRangermagazineorrespondingtosurveyssentouttoyou.YouareCMAandlongmayitthriveandprosperthrough,andfor,itsmembers.SpecialthanksmustgotoyourBoardandNationalCommitteeforgivingsignificantvolunteertimetomakingthingshappenthroughouttheyear;toRachelLimbwhovaliantlystrivestokeepusorganised,toLizBourneforputtingtogetherpackedRangereditionsandtheCountrysideJobsService(CJS)fortheirongoingsponsorshippackage.Iwillrefrainfromthankinganyoneelsebyname,asIwoulddoubtlessmisssomeoneout;suchisthetremendousinputCMAreceivesacrossthebreathoftheland.2018sofarhasbeenayearofgovernmentannouncements,publicationsandconsultations.‘AGreenFuture:Our25YearPlantoImprovetheEnvironment’and‘HealthandHarmony;thefutureforfood,farmingandtheenvironmentinaGreenBrexit’consultationgiveusallmuchtoreflectonandconsider,withAgricultureandEnvironmentActstofollow.Aspotentially‘onceinalifetime’changes,I’durgemembersandcolleaguestolookforopportunitiestoputourprofessioncentrestage.Imightsuggestthatyourwide-rangingknowledgeandexperiencecouldbeinconsiderabledemandasthefutureunfolds…Beginninginlate2017,theworkoftheParksActionGroupremainsongoing,lookingathowpublicparksandgreenspacescanmeettheneedsofcommunitiesnowandinthefuture;anotheropportunityforCMAtopositivelyinputtochangingscenarios.Relatedtoalltheabove,I’dliketogivespecialmentiontotheAccreditationReview.Respondingdirectlytoyoursurveyresponsesontheissue,theAccreditationReviewGroupandtheBoardcontinuetoworkdiligently,toofferarevised,up-to-date,fitforpurposeaccreditationsystemthatbothyou,andemployers,willvalue.Thisisavitallyimportantpieceofwork,albeittakinglongerthanweallhoped.Restassuredthateveryoneinvolvedwantstoofferyouathoroughlyandcomprehensivelyreviewedsystemthatisrespectedbothwithin,andoutside,ourprofession.Pleasebearwithus,whilstprogressismade;‘ifit’sworthdoing,it’sworthdoingwell’.Lastbutnotleast,linkstocolleaguesintheEuropeanandInternationalRangerFederationsremainverystrong.Thisongoingconnectiontocolleaguesacrosstheworldissomethingtobe

proudof.NotallassociationsororganisationshavethisglobalelementtotheirworkandCMAcontinuestoplayastrongroleinthis‘WorldFamilyofRangers’,supportingourcolleagueswheneverpossible.Asincere‘thankyou’againtoallthosewhoworkhardbehindthescenesindifferentroles,onbehalfofmembersandthosewhoareconstantlyraisingawarenessofCMA.Iknowofsterlingworkbothnorthandsouthofthecountrywithmembersgivinganumberofpresentationstocollegestudentsandrangercolleaguesduring2017/18andIhaveeveryconfidencethatCMAwillcontinuetogrowinbothsizeandinfluence.

LindaNunn,7thNovember20Secretary’sReportWhilstIwasnottheSecretaryforthisreportingperiod,Iwasaboardmemberandsocanbrieflysummariseafewkeymatters.FirstlyI’dliketothankmypredecessorinthisrole,SteveScoffin,whoputinagreatdealofeffortparticularlyintheearlierstagesofourongoingproblemswithHMRC.

I’dalsoliketosayahugethankyoutoourAdminContractor,RachelLimb,whohasworkedtirelesslytobringouradminsystemsandprocessesuptoscratchandwhoprovidesagreatservicetotheboardandtomembers.

OneofthekeyprojectsthatRachelandIworkedonduringthisreportingperiodwastheadoptionofWebcollectasournewonlinemembershipadminsystem.Wearedelightedwiththenewsystem,whichmakesitfareasierforpeopletojointheAssociationandtorenewtheirmemberships;whilstatthesametimeminimisingthequantityofdataentryandadmintimerequiredbytheCMAtomanagememberships.ThefactthattheintroductionransosmoothlywasentirelydowntheRachel’swillingnesstolearnherwayaroundthesystemanddealwithanyglitchespromptly.

Membershiplevelsduringthisperiodhasheldsteadyaroundthemid-400s(it’sdifficulttostateexactnumbersatyearendasthisisalsotherenewalperiodforalargeproportionofmembersandthereareoftensomewhodelayrenewingordon’trenew).AsofearlyNovember2018wehave454individualmembersand15corporatemembers.

StartingfromApril2019,ourplanistocompiletheannualreportinAprileachyearandshareitwithmembersthen.AfurtherupdatewillbeprovidedtoattendeesattheAGMintheautumn.Thatwewon’tbestrugglingtorecallwhathappeneduptoayearandahalfagoandthereportshouldbeofmorerelevanceandinteresttomembersasitwillcoveramorerecenttimeperiod.

MarkBaker,27thOctober2018

Treasurer’sReportThisyearhasagainseenamuchmoresettledfinancialposition.OurfinanceshavenowstabilisedandwecanhopefullyplanforsomestrategicspendonlargerprojectstomoveCMAfurtherforward.AgainahugethankyoutoRachelLimb,adminsupport,whohasbeenveryefficientandspeedyinprocessingourbookkeepingwhichhasmademylifesomucheasier.Lastyearwemadeapre-taxsurplusof£1,945.12.Ourlikelytaxbill(theoretically£369.57at19%)islikelytobeless,asitshouldbeoffsetagainsthistoriclosses.

Balances 1stApril2017 31stMarch2018Current £10,229.35 £8,881.37Reserve £1,706.90 £5,000Total £11,936.25 £13,881.37 +£1,945.12

Thisobviouslyputsusinamuchmorestablepositionwithregardstocashflow,whichhadbecomeasignificantconcernattimesinrecentyears.Ourcurrentbalancesincomparisontothistimelastyeararealsoupby£5,398.65.Howeverthisshouldnotbetakenatfacevalueassignificantexpenditurewillnotnecessarilyfallatthesametimeeachyear.

26thOct17 26thOct2018Current £11,449.05 £13,553.73Reserve £1,707.48 £5,001.45Total £13,156.53 £18,555.18 +£5,398.65

WearestillstrugglingwithHMRC.Howeverwehavesuccessfullyhadmostofourhistoricfinesrepaid,aswehaveproventhemtobeunwarranted.Wearecurrentlyattribunalovertheremaining£900.Wearecautiouslyoptimisticatgettingatleastsomeofthisback.Thereasonforallthesefinesrelatetohistoric"late"taxreturnsubmissions.Howeverwehavebeenabletodemonstratethatwehavebeentryingtosubmitthemonlineasrequired,buttheirinternalsystemhasnotbeenloggingthem.ThereforethingscurrentlyaremuchmorestableandcomfortablefinanciallyforCMA.Thisallowsustoonceagainbeginplanninghowbesttoincreaseourservicetomembers,withtheconfidencethatourcashflowwillnotbeinjeopardy.

AlanPreece,26thOctober2018

NationalTrainingCo-ordinator’sReportIntotaltherewere29studydayswith331attendees,whichisabsolutelyfantastic.

(NB:thesetotalsdonotincludetheCMAconferenceinNovember2017)

Manythankstoeveryoneinvolved,includingthepeoplewhoofferedtoorganiseadayandthosewhosupportedtheevents.

Duringthisperiod4eventswerecancelledduetolownumbers.Someregionshavestruggledtogethighenoughnumberstoattend,andthisisstillanon-goingissue.

Someregions(suchastheSouthWest)haveamoreestablishednetworkandgenerallygoodattendanceatevents,anditwouldbeniceifthiscouldbeextendedtootherareas.Therefore,itisimportantthatpeoplesupporteventsintheirownregionsand/orofferstudydays.Networkingisjustasvitaltousallastheknowledgesharing,soitbenefitseveryonebuildstrongregionalnetworks.

Thereisalistbelowofthestudydaysduringthisperiod,soeveryonecanseetherangeandtypeofsubjectsoffered.Asyoucansee,thereisagreatvariety,whichshouldencouragepeopletorunadayontheirsite.

Thenumberofplacesavailableonastudydayhasrangedfrom6to40.ThemajorityofspacesarefreeandmadeavailableforCMAmembers(andNTstaff,wheretheNTarehostingtheevent).Thereareusuallyasmallnumberofspacesfornon-membersatacostof£40morethanthefeeforCMAmembers.WenowincludeastatementonEventbritesayingthatmembershipis£35,highlightingthatit’smorecosteffectivetojoin.

AsoftheconferenceinNovember2018IwillbesteppingdownastheNationalTrainingCoordinatorafterholdingitfor2years.Pleasegetintouchwithme,orMarkBaker,ifyouareinterestedintheroleandwecanprovideyouwithmoreinformation.

Studydaysduring2017-18

• ARangers’introductiontoFarming• ARangers’WildlifeIdentificationday• ApplyingaBiodiversityManagementSystematabusyUrbanShoppingCentre• Catchmentmanagementforwater• ChallengesofmanaginganurbansiteatWren’sNestNationalNatureReserve• CharcoalMakingUsingRhododendron• CoalhouseFortPark:dealingwithdesignationsandboostingbiodiversity• CommonsandUplandFarmingonDartmoorStudyDay.• ConservationGrazingandthePublic• Creatinggrasslandpriorityhabitats• EcologyandConservationWorkshopforDormice• Environmentalfactorsaffectingthesitinganduseofbatboxes• Erectingdormicenestboxesandtubes;maintenanceofexistingboxes• FarmingforNatureatRSPBHaweswater• FreshwaterQualityMonitoring• GreatCrestedNewtSurveyMorning• Haystrewingmeadowcreationworkshop

• HeathlandrestorationBigHitversusLittleandOften• Horseloggingonsensitivesites• ManagingCoppiceinaLakeDistrictAncientWoodland• ManagingInvasivePlantsInTheCountryside• MothTrappingforBeginners• SaveourOrchards-Managementandpruningstudyday.• SouthWestAGM&GuidedTouroftheTyntesfieldEstate• SouthWestRangerForum;GreeningtheCity&UrbanWildlifeConservation• ValuingandManagingVeteranTrees• WildflowerIdentificationbyFamilyforBeginners/Improvers

JaniceBurley,27thOctober2018

InternationalCo-ordinator’sReportInMay2017,thefourthEuropeanRangerCongresswasheldinLitomerice,CzechRepublic,bringingtogether125rangersfrom27countriesincludingRussia,Germany,Iceland,IsraelandSlovakia.17rangersattendedfromacrosstheUK.

OneofthehighlightsoftheCongresswastheformationoftheEuropeanRangerFederation(ERF)primarilytogiveacommonvoicetoEuropeanRangerswhilststillundertheumbrellaoftheInternationalRangerFederation(IRF)

OurownVicePresidentofCMA,RogerColehastakenonasimilarrolewiththisneworganisationandasmallteamhasmetonacoupleofoccasionssincetotakeitemsforward.

2017wasanimportantyearfortheglobalrangerfamilycelebratingthe10thand25thanniversariesoftheThinGreenLineFoundation(TGLF)andtheIRF.ThestrengthoftheinternationalrangerconnectivitywashighlightedbyawidevarietyofsuccessfulWorldRangerDayeventsacrosstheUKonJuly31st.ThisdatealsogiveseveryoneachancetoreflectonthesacrificethatsomanyRangersmakeeachyeartryingtoprotectourwildlifeandspecificallyinmemoryofWayneLotterwhowasshotandkilledinTanzaniaon16thAugust.

ChloeBradbrooke,LeadRanger,wasfinanciallysupportedbyCMAtoattendthePortugueseRangerAssociationmeetinginQuinta,continuingourannualsupporttothisorganisation,sharingexperiencesandknowledge.

Similarly,PaulRoberts,Ranger,wasfinanciallysupportedtoattendtheSwissRanger10thAnniversaryCampheldnearBrunig.

CMAcontinuestohelpoverseasRangerswishingtogainvaluableworkexperienceintheUKandRolandWeberfromMuritzNationalPark,GermanyspentseveralweeksinfourNationalParksinJanuarygainingknowledge,friendshipsandhelpingtoimprovehisEnglishlanguage!

Helpandsupporthasalsobeengiventoseveralrangerassociationsthatareintheearlystagesofformation.Georgiaisonesuchassociationthatisnearlythereanditwaswonderfulnewsto

seetheRangerAssociationofIreland(RAI)reformandrelaunchinFebruary2018andbecomeamemberofIRFwithCMAasitssponsor.

IanBrooker,24thOctober2018

RegionalReportsNorthWestRegion

WehadarangeofCMAstudydaysintheNorthWestregionincludingValuingandmanagingveterantreesinApril,FarmingfornatureRSPBHaweswaterinJune,CatchmentmanagementforwaterinJune,HeathlandRestoration–bighitversuslittleandofteninAugust,ConservationgrazingandthepublicandManagingacoppiceinaLakeDistrictAncientWoodland,bothinSeptember.Theseweregenerallyreallywellattendedandfeedbackwaspositivefromall.2017alsosawareallygreatWorldRangerDayeventheldontheshoresofWindermere.ThiseventwasacollaborationbetweentheLakeDistrictNationalParkrangersandtheNationalTrustrangerswiththeall-importantopportunitytospendsometimetogether,reflectontheworkofrangersaroundtheworld,sharestories,havesomefoodandofcourse,somefunwatersportsontheLake.AsuccessfuleventwhichwasbackeduponsocialmediabylocalenvironmentalcharitiesincludingCumbriaWildlifeTrust.Whilstwehadanincreaseinmembershipduring2017/18,itwouldbegreattohavemoreactivemembersintheregion,toincreasefutureattendanceatstudydays,spreadoutthestudydaylocationsandincreasecontributionstothenewsletter.

ClairPayne,25thOctober2018EastofEngland

Wepublished3issuesofourregionalnewsletterinthisperiod.Wehadanumberofstudydaysintheregion:CoalhouseFortPark(June2017),NestBoxesandTubesforDormice(March2018),Ecology&ConservationofDormice(March2018).UnfortunatelyonestudydayattheBroadsNPwasduetoruninApril2017butwascancelledduetolowuptake.Ihopethiscanberescheduledatsomepointasitlookedtobeanexcellentevent.SeveralmembersfromtheregionattendedtheIRFEuropeanRangerConferenceinCzechRepublicinMay2017.

TomHeenan,29thOctober2018

SouthEast&LondonRegion

Newsletter

Wehaveproducedanewregionalnewsletterthe‘BeautifulSouth’.Theintentionoftheregionalnewsletteristocoincidewiththequarterlyproductionof‘Ranger’.

TheBeautifulSouthisyournewsletterandtokeepit‘yours’theeditor,PhilBoltonneedsregionalmembersinputwitharticles,events,estatemanagementtechniques,equipmentuse,volunteernews,siteandrangerprofilesetc.

Events

Icanreportthattheregionhasorganisedfourtrainingdays(TD)andonestudydays(SD)duringthisperiod.Thestudydaywascancelledunfortunatelyduetothelackofbookings.

Thefollowingeventswereorganised:

Event Date Eventtype

Venue Numberofdelegatesattended

GreatCrestedNewtSurveyMorning

08/04/2017 TD WestmorlandParkPavilion,

3

Heathlandreclamationturningwastewoodintoenergy:AvisittoHorsellCommon'sbiomassoperation

25/04/2017 SD HorsellCommon Cancelled

Erectingdormicenestboxesandtubes,maintenanceofexistingboxes

15/01/2018 TD BluewaterShoppingCentre,Greenhithe.Kent

12

EcologyandConservationfordormice

23/02/2018 TD BluewaterShoppingCentre,Greenhithe.Kent

12

EcologyandConservationfordormice

27/03/2018 TD BelhusWood,CountryPark.

12

Futureevents/Actions

Asincerethankstothevenueswhohavehostedatraining/studyevent.Wedohoweverneedmorevenuesandhoststostepforwardpleasesowecanextendandbroadentherangeofeventswecanprovideforthemembership.PhilBoltonalsoneedmemberstogetintouchandfillinthetrainingrequestformtolethimknowwhateventstheywouldliketoseein2018/19.

Outreachevents

InJanuary2018,RichardWestwoodandPhilBoltonattendedtheNationalTrust(SE)RangerConferenceheldonthe25th-26thJanuary2018.BoththeSouthEast’sbannerswerepresentandthefullCMAdisplay.AbigthankyoutoChloeBradbrooke,LeadRangerfortheinvite.

Currentregionalcommitteeroles

RegionalCoordinator–RichardWestwoodTrainingOfficer–PhilBoltonRegionalNewsletterEditor–PhilBolton

CountyRepresentatives

Oxford–VacantBuckinghamshire–VacantBerkshirewithNorthHants–RichardWestwoodSouthHantswithIsleWight–VacantSurrey–Vacant

GreaterLondon–VacantEastSussex–VacantWestSussex–VacantKent–PhilBolton

Ifyouareinterestedinrepresentingyoucountyontheregionalcommittee,pleasedogetincontactusingsoutheast@countrysidemanagement.org.uk

RichardWestwood,2ndNovember2018NorthernIrelandRegion

ForNorthernIrelandit’sbeenan‘interesting’timeinallaspectstosaytheleastoverthepastyearparticularlyforlocalteamsandtheuncertainlyaroundBrexit,Forgovernmentorganisationsadefaultedbudgetingovernmentalfundingwiththeabsenceofasittingassemblyhasledtoafreezeonmostprojects,andnotstartinganynewone.TheimplicationshavealsoimpactedonsmallpotfundinggrantswhichmanysmallerenvironmentalNGOsrelyon.Thefutureimpactsofeverythingareuncertainandwithnaturenotknowingborderswhateverhappensherecouldsignificantlyimpactoncurrentandfuturecross-borderenvironmentalwork.CMAbasedactivityhasbeingthefollowing;

• IndividualCMAmembersnowsitsat2+NationalTrustcorporatemembershipmakingupthebulkofCMAbasedcommsandactivitywiththecirca45Rangerandcountrysidebasedstaffand50+regularvolunteers/trainees/placements

• RegionalRangergathering30-31stAug(NTcountrysideteamsandVolunteers)hostedbytheNorthCoastEastteambasedoutthecoastalvillageofCushendunintheGlensofAntrim.

• TheformationoftheRangerAssociationofIrelandinthesouthhascompletedandtheNICMArepjoinedtheRangergatheringleadingtoitsformationintheKillarneyNationalPark27-28thFeb.WiththeformationoftheRAIanditsrecognitionwiththeERFandIRFitopensupfurtherpossibilitieswithintheislandofIrelandtoensuregoodcommunicationandrelationswiththerangerteamsacrossbothcountries.Wehavetheambitiontorunjointgatheringsandstudydayswhereable.

TobyEdwards,7thNovember2018